MINI REVIEW OF TRENDS, CHALLENGES AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS OF INTEGRATING GAMIFICATION INTO TVET

Abstract

This mini-review explores the trends, challenges, and future prospects of gamification use in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), highlighting its potential to enhance learners' motivation, engagement, and ability to apply skills in their practical learning. The relevant literature was systematically searched in Scopus, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar with specific combinations of keywords: gamification, "TVET", "Vocational education", and "Learning outcomes". In order to preserve the integrity of the research, a strict methodology was used, which only included English peer-reviewed publications and excluded non-English and grey literature. The results demonstrate that the use of gamification is becoming more and more relevant in TVET, as it promotes active learning, collaboration, and retention, while also aligning with the demands of industry 4.0, which require digital and tech skills through tools and gamification elements such as points, badges, leaderboards, and simulations. But not all of this is due to implementation inconsistencies; problems such as lack of infrastructure, lack of teacher preparation, and lack of consistent evaluation practices continue to exist. The sustainability of gamification's motivational power is also being challenged along with its ability to become over-gamified, losing educational value. Also, the sustainability of the motivational power of gamification is being questioned, as well as its ability to become over-gamified, losing educational value. There are gaps in knowledge regarding practical effects on employability and in skill transfer across domains, dimensions, and across cultures. There is an urgent need for further research to create evidence-based frameworks, standardised evaluation tools and scalable models applicable to various vocational contexts.